Apparatus for making clothes-pegs.



A. A. HOWES.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOTHES PEGS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19. 1911.

1,300,614.. Patnted Apr. 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. A. HOWES.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOTHES PEGS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19.1911.

Patentd Apr. 15,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. A. HOWES.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOTHES PEGS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19.1911

1,300,6 1 4, Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. A. HOWES.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOTHES PEGS. APPLICATWN FILED OCT-19.!917.

ALBERT ARTHUR Hownsor' onnis'rcnuncn, new zE'ALAnn;

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOTHES-PEGS.

Leonora.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15 1919;

Application filed October 19', 1917. Serial No. 197,457;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ARTHUR Howns, a subject of King George V ofGreat Britain, residing at Lichfield street,

Christchurch, in the Dominion of New Zea land, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making Clothes-Pegs, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine tomanufacture an improved clothes peg.

A description-of the invention is as follows, it being understood thatslight alterations may be made in the constructional featuresof themachine without departing from the essential features of the invention.In-the drawings accompanying this speclfication,

Figure 1 is a side elevation indicating the main features of themachine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts comprising units 1 and 2 of themachine.

Fig. 4 is an end view ofFig. 3 looking in the direction of arrow A.

F *ig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view of the mutilated toothed wheel in the feed gearmechanism. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of unit 4 and part of units 3 and5.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional elevation of the paring apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional elevation of the drilling apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 7

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the slotting and other apparatuscomprising unlt 6 and part of unit 5, the cutting off saw and gear beingomitted.

, Fig. 12 is an end elevation of Flg. 11. Fig. 13 is a plan view of F1g.11. The operation, of manufacturing the pegs may preferably for the sakeof description be divided into six units or steps, numbered respectivelyon the drawings 1 to 6, from the reception of the timber in the form ofplanks or boards sawed to correct dimensions to the delivery of thefinished peg into a chute or hopper, or other removing arrangement asmay be desired.

The machine is adapted-to be driven by an electric motor or any othersuitable means; this is not shown in the drawings. Counter sliafting(not 7 shown) may be erected where most suitable after consideration ofthe building to contain the machine. Extending the length of the machineis a table 1 carried on standards 2, and placed in a suitable positionbelow the level of the table 1 is a motion cam shaft 3 driven by a beltdrive (not shown) on to a pulley 1, as is shown in the submitteddrawings in Figs. 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12.

Describing now the first unit at the end where the timber is fed intothe machine, the construction and operation is as follows The table 1 isadapted to receive the wood in boards one upon another, preferably sixdeep, or as may be found most suitable relative to the capacity of themachine. Each board is of the thickness of one peg, and of a width equalto a number of pegs, say six or eight, as may be required. A smallamount of extra wood is provided for wastage by sawing. In the drawingsub mitted, the table is shown of a capacity equal to six pegs in width.The wood is carried between guides or fences 5 on the table 1 duringeach successive operation to produce the finished article. The wood fromwhich the pegs are cut is fed automatically below rollers 6 mounted inbearings 7 on the table the said rollers 6 may have a trade name or markthereon to impress the wood with the said mark as it travels between thesaid rollers. Each set of boards is fed forward into the machine atregular set intervals, say three times per minute, by. an inter1nittentfeed movement as will be hereinafter described, there being between eachforward feed movement a period of rest (hereinafter referred to as therest period) during which various operations may be performed upon thewood, each forward feed. move ment is of a distance equal to the lengthof one peg, plus the thickness of a cross out saw. The feed movement isintermittent throughout the whole length of the table,

and may be so arranged that when the timher is all, or nearly all, fedinto the machine, the machine will be automatically stopped by thedisengaging of a clutch or similar gear mounted on the motionshaft'until such time as fresh wood is supplied for the machine tooperate on.

In the drawings, the feed gear mechanism comprises a counter shaft 8.driven by means ofbevel pinions 9 on the main motion cam, shaft 3, andon the said counter shaft 8 is a mutilated pinion 10 engaging with atoothed wheel 11 carried on a counter shaft 12, the two counter shafts 8and 12 are carried by brackets 13. On the counter shaft 12 is a chainpulley 14-, around which passes a chain 15 carried by two other chainpulleys 16 attached at each end of the feed table 1 in unit 1 in such amanner as to allow the chain to move along a groove 17 in the uppersurface of the table 1.

Attached to the chain 15 and sliding between the guides 5 on the table 1in unit 1 is a sliding fence 18; the feed gear mechanism moving thesliding fence being so arranged that each revolution of the cam shaft 3will revolve the mutilated pinion 10 which willtransmit a rotary motionfor part of its revolution to toothed wheel 11 thus giving a slightmovement to the chain wheel 14 and chain 15. The direction of the camsha-fts rotation is such that it will, through the before describedgears, transmit a forward motion to the sliding fence 18 equal indistance to the length of one clothes peg.

In the design shown,-the disengaging of the before mentioned clutch 19when all the timher on the feed table 1 has been fed forward, isachieved by a projection 20 011 the sliding fence 18 coming in contactwith and operating a bell crank trigger lever 21, which operation allowsa hand lever 22 to move under .the influence of a spring 23 and throughthe medium of a connecting rod 2-1 to disengage the clutch member 19,thus stopping the whole movement of the cam motion shaft 3. The slidingfence 18 can now be manually drawn back to its original starting ositionat the end of feed table 1 or the win ing back may be accomplished by ahand wheel (not shown) attached to the countershaft 12. The hand lever22 is so arranged that the attendant can at any time produce the sameresults, I do not limit the application of my idea to the describedgear. The feed table and the gears thereon comprise the first unit ofthe machine.

I will now describe the operation of the second unit.

Passing from the feed table 1, the planks engage with a gang of grippingsaws 25. These saws 25 are mounted on a spindle 26 at right angles tothe line of the forward feed movement of the timber; the said spindle 26iscarried in bearings 27, on standard 2*. The saws 25 are ofsuch anumber, and soplaced, as will divide the planks of timber intostrips,each of which is the width ofa :pe'g. Motion isgiventothe saw spindle 26by means of belting (not shown) driving on forward feed movement of thetimber on table 1 in unit 1, and throughout the machine. On either sideof the saws 25 are rollers 6 which are carried in bearings 7, therollers are provided to keep the timber down on the table 1.

The operation of the third unit is as fol lows.

After leaving the saws 25 in unit 2, the planks of timber now cut intolong strips, are fed along the table 1, and each group of stripscomprising several layers, is spread apart by means of wedges 29attached to the table in this unit; The wedges. are made with the thinedge of each immediately opposite the edge of a saw in the gang ofripping saws 25, so that eachlayer of strips when fed between the wedgesis spread apart. The object of spreading the timber isthat room may beobtained between each vertical group of the said layers of strips fontheinsertion of tools to work as hereinafter described. This spreadingapart of the vertical layers of strips on thetable 1. comprises thethird unit.

Having been separated by the before 1nentioned wedges 29, the timber isnow operated upon by a gang of vertical drills 30. Each drill drills ahole through the wood in such a position therein as will coincide withthe top of the slot in the finished peg.

In the drawings submitted, the drills 30 are held in chucks -31 mountedon rotating spindles 32, ca-rryingpulleys 33 driven by means of smallround belting froma vertical rotating pulley 35, which in turn receivesits motion from a counter shaft 36 or any other suitable mechanicalmeans, such as a direct drive from an electric motor. he rotatingspindles 32 are carried on bearings 37 mounted on standards 38 on thetable 1.

The necessary vertical feed nrovement is given to the drills 30 by meansof a series-of levers 39 attached to the top of the rotating spindles 32and carried on a rod 40 which receives a vertical motion from twoconnecting rods 11 mounted in bearings 12 on theside .of table 1, andbeing at its lower end connected to an arm 43 rigidly secured to drawrods 44: operating the paring knives to be hereinafter described.

The drilling of the strips will take place at a time to coincide withthe periods of rest between each forward feed movement of the wood. Atthe same time as the drilling is being done, the side of eachlayerofstrips is pared by a set of'knives 15 so-shaped as to produce aconcave profile on the strips. The knives 45 may be mounted on platesiii (not shown) in a manner which will enable them to be removed forsharpening purposes or renewal.

In the drawings the paring knives are carried in a tool box 46 slidablymounted between standards 47 on table 1. The vertical movement necessaryto operate the aring knives 45 is imparted through the raw rods 44having its lower end pivoted to a lever 48 pivotally mounted at 49 to aprojecting arm 50 on the bearing box 51. The bearing box 51 carries ahorizontal shaft 52 arranged crosswise under the table 1 (Fig. 9) anddriven by bevel pinions 53 from the main motion shaft 3. Mounted on thehorizontal shaft 52 are cams 54, the said cams are so placed and shapedas to engage with a projecting roller 55 on the lever 48. For thegreater part of each revolution of the cams 54 no motion is imparted tothe lever 48, but a depression 56 on the cams 54 gives a downward andupward movement to the lever 48 for a short period of time during therevolution of the cam 54. The drilling and paring may be considered asthe fourth unit in the description of my machine.

After drilling and paring, the strips are fedalong the table 1 in thefifth-unit, on which the fences or guides 5 so converge as to bring thewood strips close together vertically at the end of this unit. Thisconstruction is shown in Figs. 2 and 10. The said guides or fences 5 mayhold rollers (not shown) placed vertically therein so as to fa cilitatethe forward movement of the wood strips by reducing the friction on thesides of the fences. V The reducing of the spaces between the verticalstrips of wood is the fifth unit in the description of" my machine. Thestrips now closely packed together on all sides are fed into the sixthor last unit. Here the wood is fed forward to the end of the table 1,which is slotted as at 57 (Fig. 13) for a distance equal to the lengthof the slot in the peg, to allow a gang of slotting saws to/operate, aswill now be described.

During the period of rest between each forward feed movement there isbrought into operation a gang of slotting saws 58, of such number andgage as will cut slots of a desired width in the end of each verticallayer of the strips. The saws are so adjusted that the extremity of thedepth of the cut will coincide with the center of the hole drilled inthe pegs as described in the operation of unit No. 4. The saws 58 aremounted on a spindle 59 carryin a pulley (60 at right angles to andacross t e line of the woods advance, the saw spindle 59 being carriedby bearings 61 on the ends of two wiper arms 62 pivotally mounted on ashaft 63 carried on standards 64, and having a balance weight 65 tobalance the dead weight of the wiper arms and saw gear. A counter shaft66 is placed in any convenient position behind the standard 64 andcarried in bearing brackets 67; the said shaft 66 receives its motionfrom a belt (not shown) driving on to a pulley 68 or from any otherconvenient drive, such as a direct coupled motor. On the shaft 66 is adriving pulley 69 from which a belt 70 passes over the jockey pulley 71carried on brackets 7 2 and shaft 73 on the standards 64, and fromthence the belt passes around the pulley 60 on the saw spindle 59.

Vertical movement is given to the slotting saws by means of a connectingrod 74 pivoted to one end of a lifting lever 75, which is pivotallymounted at its other end at 2 to standard 2 carrying the table 1 at thispart. Movement is given to the lifting lever 75 by a cam 76 carried on acrosswise horizontalshaft 77 mounted on a bearing bracket 78, and drivenby means of bevel pinions 79.

and 80 oif the main cam shaft 3 by a miter pinion 80 keyed to the maincam shaft 3; this construction is shown in Fig. 11.

Between each of the saws 58 and attached to the spindle 59 so as torevolve withit, is placed a specially formed cutter 81. Each cutter 81is adapted to give a wide curved lead to the slot of the peg similar tothe usual type of clothes peg.

Following upon the slotting operation of the wooden strips there is acutting off operation. This is accomplished by moving a cross cut saw 82(Figs. 1 and 2) across the strips, cutting them to the length of pegdesired. The cross cutsaw is mounted on a belt driven spindle parallelwith the line of the woods movement, and is made to swing at I rightangles through the wood strips when so desired; a V

Travel is given to the cutting off saw when required by means of a cammounted on the before'mentioned motion shaft 3, and by a system oflevers or such like suitable gear, (not shown), as is commonly adoptedto obtain the same result in wood work factories and saw mills, theimportant object beingto efiect the cutting off movement of the sawduring the period of rest and according to the general timing of eachmovement of the machine.

The saw spindle 83 is carried on the ends of two swinging arms 84pivotally mounted ona counter shaft 85 earned on bearings 8 attached tothe wall of the workshop. In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings, the bearings 86 are shown attached to a wall, but ofcourse they may be suspended from the ceiling or to any convenient placeaccording to the position of the machine. On the said counter shaft 85,and between each of the swinging arms 84 is a driving pulley 87 fromwhich the belt passes on to the pulley 88 of the saw spindle 83.

The peg now being completed, may be tied into bundles by suitable means,and the next forward movement of the timber following will dislodge thebundle from the edge of the table into a conveyor or chute, or suchother arrangement that may be used to remove the bundle of pegs to apacking department or direct to a packing case.

In operation: The wood already cut to size and to a definite length isplaced on the feed table 1 between fences or guides 5, and in front ofthe sliding fence l8. When the said sliding fence 18 receives itsforward motion, the wood is fed forward for a distance equal to thelength of one peg. This intermittent and forward feed movement continuesthroughout the whole machine, the timing of each movement at the variousunits being constant and pre-determined. From the feed table 1 thetimber passes to the ripping saws where it is split up into strips asdetailed in the description of the machine, and from thence passes alongthe table 1 between the wedges 29 to the drilling table in unit 4.

At'the drilling table there is a period of rest in the feed movement,during which downward movement is given to the rotating drills 30, whichpass through the layers of wood, making a hole in the wood approximateto where the slot in the pegs will terminate. At the same time, theparing knives receive a vertical motion from their gear, as described inthe description of the machine, and form a concave profile on theoutside of the prongs of the peg. Immediately on the completion of thedrilling and paring operations the feed movement is resumed, and anotherportion of the wood comes into position below the drills and paringknives. The timber on the table in unit five travels forward and isbrought closely together with each succeeding movement until it reachesthe end of the table.

During the period of rest, the slotting saws 58 carried on the wiperarms 62 descend, cutting a slot through each vertical layer of strips,the said slot extending to the hole made in the wood by the drills inunit four. Simultaneously with the cutting of the slots, the cuttersbetween the circular saws taper off thel inner ends of the slot made bythe incision of the slotting saws. Following upon the fore-goingoperations, the cross cut saw 82 is brought into. operation, and cutsoff a length of timber equal to the length of one peg. This completesthe cycle of operations on the wood, and gives a com- 'plete andfinished clothes peg.

The next forward movement of the wood ejects the finished pegs from thetable into a chute or hopper, or into a suitable bundling apparatus.

for drillin a hole in the wood to determine the top of the slot in thepeg, means for fashioning the outer profile of the peg,and mechanism forcutting and shaping the slots and cutting off of the pegs.

In a machine for making clothes pegs, mechanism for sawing material intostrips of even width, we l 'e means for separating the strips, drillingand paring devices for operating upon the strips to produce the profileof the pegs, means for drawing the strips together, and mechanism forslotting and shaping the strips to complete them.

3. In a machine of the class described for making clothes pegs, thecombination and arrangement of parts comprising a feed table, a gang ofsaws for longitudinally dividing the material fed from said table intostrips, wedge means for. automatically separating the cut strips, drillsfor boring the separated strips, cutters for slotting the strips, thedrills and cutters partly forming the outer profile of the pegs, andafinal series of saws and cutters to longitudinally 7 slot and shape theentrances of the said slots, and a traveling cross cut circular saw forseveringthe strips iii-predetermined lengths to complete the pegs. V

4:. A macl 'ne of the class described for making clothes pegs,comprising a table having mechanisinfor automatically feeding wood alongthe same, saws for dividing the wood into strips, means for spreadingthe strips apart, drills and paring knives .to which the strips arerespectively, and successively fed for partly forming the outer profileof the pegs, the drills forming holes in the strips at a positionapproximate to the top of the slot in the finished clothes pegs,mechanism for longitudinally slotting the strips from one end and forflaring the entrances of the slots, and mechanism for cutting oilf thestrips into peg lengths.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ALBERT ARTHUR HOIVES.

Witnesses:

A. C. MACINTYRE, ROBERT WALES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

